Boat and barge traffic will be somewhat limited on 191 miles of the upper Illinois River from early July to late October. There was preliminary repair work on some of the locks last year. Mechanical work will be done on five of them this year. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Spokesman Allen Marshall says the work will require complete closures ranging from three weeks to four months depending on the location. Anyone operating a vessel on the river will be able to take it anywhere between the closed locks but no farther.

The Marseilles and Starved Rock locks will be completely closed for new gates that let vessels through. LaGrange will close for more extensive lock machinery replacement. Peoria will be closed for maintenance and inspection. The Dresden lock in Grundy County will have a part-time closure at first, then a complete closure for three weeks in October.